Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus includes a display having a display screen that displays an image; an acquiring section that acquires information indicating a contact point which is a position where an operator is brought into contact with the display screen by a user; a display controller that makes the display screen display an image showing a designation point designated by the user; and a setting section that sets an operation mode by switching between a first operation mode in which a disposition of the designation point relative to the contact point is changeable and a second operation mode in which the designation point is moved in accordance with movement of the contact point so that the disposition changed in the first operation mode is maintained. The display controller controls display of the designation point in accordance with the operation mode set by the setting section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2012-159467 filed Jul. 18, 2012.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to information processing apparatuses,information processing methods, and non-transitory computer readablemedia.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided aninformation processing apparatus including a display, an acquiringsection, a display controller, and a setting section. The display has adisplay screen that displays an image. The acquiring section acquiresinformation indicating a contact point which is a position where anoperator is brought into contact with the display screen by a user. Thedisplay controller makes the display screen display an image showing adesignation point designated by the user. The setting section sets anoperation mode by switching between a first operation mode in which adisposition of the designation point relative to the contact point ischangeable and a second operation mode in which the designation point ismoved in accordance with movement of the contact point so that thedisposition changed in the first operation mode is maintained. Thedisplay controller controls display of the designation point inaccordance with the operation mode set by the setting section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating the configuration of aninformation processing apparatus according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of theinformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 3 illustrates a functional configuration of a controller of theinformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a process executed by thecontroller of the information processing apparatus;

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate examples of images displayed on a displayscreen of the information processing apparatus according to each offirst, second, and third exemplary embodiments;

FIGS. 6A to 6C illustrate examples of images displayed on a displayscreen of an information processing apparatus according to a fourthexemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate examples of images displayed on a displayscreen of an information processing apparatus according to a fifthexemplary embodiment; and

FIGS. 8A to 8C illustrate examples of images displayed on a displayscreen of an information processing apparatus according to amodification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating the configuration of aninformation processing apparatus 1 according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. The information processingapparatus 1 is an electronic apparatus equipped with a display screen10. The display screen 10 displays an image and accepts an operation byan operator, such as a user's finger. The display screen 10 has, forexample, a rectangular shape that is vertically long. The display screen10 may be of a three-dimensionally perceptible type based on, forexample, unaided stereovision. The operator is not limited to a user'sfinger and may alternatively be, for example, a stylus pen, a glove, ora finger cot. In other words, the operator may be of any kind of bodythat is operable by the user and whose position in contact with thedisplay screen 10 of the information processing apparatus 1 isdetectable.

The information processing apparatus 1 has an appropriate size forallowing the user to operate the display screen 10 with his/her fingerand is, for example, a mobile phone (including a smartphone), a tabletpersonal computer (PC), a slate PC, or a personal digital assistant(PDA). The size of the information processing apparatus 1 may be suchthat the user can operate the apparatus while holding it with his/herhand, or may be such that the user can operate the apparatus while theapparatus is placed on a desk or attached to a holder. The informationprocessing apparatus 1 does not necessarily have to be tabular.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of theinformation processing apparatus 1. The information processing apparatus1 includes a controller 11, a storage unit 12, a touch-screen 13, and acommunication unit 15. In addition to the components shown in FIG. 2,the information processing apparatus 1 may also include a speaker and amicrophone (or input-output sections thereof), a camera (including avideo camera), and a vibrator.

The controller 11 is configured to control the operation of eachcomponent in the information processing apparatus 1. The controller 11includes an arithmetic processing unit, such as a central processingunit (CPU), and storage units, such as a read only memory (ROM) and arandom access memory (RAM), and executes a program stored in the ROM orthe storage unit 12 so as to achieve a graphical user interface (GUI)according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The storage unit 12 is configured to store data. The storage unit 12includes a storage medium, such as a hard disk or a flash memory, andstores data to be used by the controller 11. The storage unit 12 mayalternatively include a detachable storage medium, such as a so-calledremovable disk. The storage unit 12 stores programs to be executed bythe controller 11 as well as data indicating various kinds of images tobe displayed on the display screen 10. If multiple informationprocessing apparatuses 1 are to be used by a single user or if a singleinformation processing apparatus 1 is to be used by multiple users, thestorage unit 12 may store identification information for identifyingeach user.

The touch-screen 13 is configured to display an image and also to acceptan operation by the user. More specifically, the touch-screen 13includes a display 131 that displays an image on the display screen 10and a detector 132 that detects a position where the operator, such as auser's finger, is in contact with the display screen 10 so as to acceptthe user's operation performed on the display screen 10.

The display 131 includes a display panel that displays an image by aliquid-crystal element or an organic electroluminescence (EL) elementand a drive circuit that drives this display panel, and makes thedisplay screen 10 display an image in accordance with data supplied fromthe controller 11. The detector 132 includes a sensor that detects thatthe operator is in contact with the display screen 10, and suppliescontact-point information, which indicates the detected contact position(referred to as “contact point” hereinafter) of the operator, to thecontroller 11.

The communication unit 15 is configured to transmit and receive data.The communication unit 15 may be an interface connected to acommunication line, such as a mobile communication network or theInternet, or may be connected to another electronic apparatus withoutthe intervention of a communication line, as in near-field-communication(NFC) based wireless communication.

FIG. 3 illustrates a functional configuration of the controller 11 ofthe information processing apparatus 1. The controller 11 executes theaforementioned program so as to function as an acquiring section 111, asetting section 112, and a display controller 113. The acquiring section111 acquires the contact-point information indicating the contact pointdetected by the detector 132 of the touch-screen 13.

The setting section 112 sets an operation mode to a disposition mode(i.e., a first operation mode) or a movement mode (i.e., a secondoperation mode). An operation performed by the user is intended fortransmitting a designation point, which is a point designated by theuser on the display screen 10, to the controller 11 of the informationprocessing apparatus 1 and includes a combination and the order of auser's contact point on the display screen 10 and the contact mode atthat contact point. There are two kinds of operation modes, which arethe disposition mode and the movement mode mentioned above. Thedisposition mode is a mode in which the disposition of the designationpoint relative to the contact point is changeable. The movement mode isa mode for moving the designation point in accordance with movement ofthe contact point so that the disposition changed in the dispositionmode is maintained.

These modes are switched when a predetermined operation is accepted orwhen a predetermined time elapses from a certain time point. The RAM ofthe controller 11 is provided with a mode storage region. When theaforementioned operation for switching modes is accepted or when one ofthe aforementioned conditions is satisfied, the setting section 112achieved by the controller 11 renews the mode stored in this region.

The display controller 113 controls the display 131 so as to make thedisplay screen 10 display an image showing the designation point.Furthermore, the display controller 113 identifies the contact point onthe basis of the contact-point information acquired by the acquiringsection 111 and refers to the operation mode set by the setting section112. Then, if the operation mode is set in the disposition mode, thedisplay controller 113 determines the disposition of the designationpoint relative to the contact point on the basis of this contact point.If the operation mode is set in the movement mode, the displaycontroller 113 moves the designation point in accordance with movementof the contact point so that the disposition determined in thedisposition mode is maintained.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a process executed by thecontroller 11 of the information processing apparatus 1. When thecontroller 11 acquires contact-point information indicating a contactpoint first detected by the detector 132 in step S101, the controller 11determines an initial position of a designation point in accordance witha predetermined rule and disposes the designation point at this initialposition in step S102. According to this rule, the initial position ofthe designation point may set at the same position as the contact pointor at a position located away from the contact point by a predetermineddistance in a predetermined direction. Alternatively, according to theaforementioned rule, a predetermined position on the display screen 10may be set as the initial position regardless of the position of thecontact point.

In step S103, the controller 11 determines whether or not the operationmode is set in the disposition mode. In the first exemplary embodiment,the controller 11 sets the operation mode to the disposition mode untila predetermined time (e.g., five seconds) elapses from a time point atwhich an operator comes into contact with the display screen 10.Therefore, the controller 11 determines that the operation mode is setin the disposition mode until the aforementioned time elapses. When thepredetermined time has elapsed from the time point at which the displayscreen 10 is touched, the controller 11 sets the operation mode to themovement mode.

Specifically, the controller 11 according to the first exemplaryembodiment functions as the setting section 112 that sets the operationmode to the disposition mode (i.e., the first mode) when the usertouches the display screen 10 and that sets the operation mode to themovement mode (i.e., the second mode) when the predetermined time haselapsed since the disposition mode is set in a state where the user iscontinuously in contact with the display screen 10.

If it is determined that the operation mode is set in the dispositionmode (YES in step S103), the controller 11 updates the disposition ofthe designation point in step S104 on the basis of the contact pointindicated by the most recent contact-point information and acquires thenext contact-point information from the detector 132 in step S105. Then,the controller 11 returns the process to step S103. Therefore, when thepredetermined time has elapsed from the time point at which the operatoris brought into contact with the display screen 10 by the user, thecontroller 11 determines that the operation mode is not set in thedisposition mode.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the operation mode is notset in the disposition mode (NO in step S103), namely, when theoperation mode is set in the movement mode, the controller 11 determinesin step S106 whether or not a designation-point setting operation hasbeen performed by the user. If it is determined that a designation-pointsetting operation has been performed (YES in step S106), the controller11 sets the designation point in step S107 in accordance with theoperation and executes a process based on the set designation point instep S108. The controller 11 having executed the aforementioned processreturns the process to step S101.

In the first exemplary embodiment, an operation performed by the userfor moving the operator away from the display screen 10 is defined asthe designation-point setting operation. Therefore, when the operator incontact with the display screen 10 at the aforementioned contact pointis moved away therefrom, the controller 11 determines that thedesignation-point setting operation has been performed and sets thedesignation point at that time point as the designation point to be usedin the process. Then, the controller 11 performs the process by usingcoordinates of that designation point.

On the other hand, if it is determined that no designation-point settingoperation has been performed (NO in step S106), the controller 11 movesthe designation point in accordance with movement of the contact pointin step S109 so as to maintain the disposition determined in thedisposition mode. Then, the controller 11 acquires the nextcontact-point information from the detector 132 in step S110 and returnsthe process to step S103.

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate examples of images displayed on the displayscreen 10 of the information processing apparatus 1 according to each offirst, second, and third exemplary embodiments. The display screen 10 inthe first exemplary embodiment will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the user touches the display screen 10 withhis/her finger f1, the detector 132 of the information processingapparatus 1 detects a contact point at a position where the finger f1and the display screen 10 are in contact with each other. Then, thecontroller 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 acquirescontact-point information indicating the contact point from the detector132 and sets the operation mode to the disposition mode. Furthermore,the controller 11 determines an initial position of a designation pointin accordance with the predetermined rule and makes the display 131display a designation point P0 at this initial position. In this case,the initial position is set to the position of the contact pointindicated by the contact-point information.

Upon acquiring the contact-point information, the controller 11interprets the time point of the acquisition of the contact-pointinformation as a time point at which the display screen 10 is firsttouched by the user and stores the time point in the RAM. The controller11 then measures the time elapsed from that time point. When the elapsedtime exceeds five seconds, the controller 11 renews the operation modeto the movement mode.

When the user moves his/her finger f1 on the display screen 10 whilekeeping the finger f1 in contact therewith before five seconds elapsefrom the time point at which the display screen 10 is first touched bythe user, the detector 132 detects the moving contact point in, forexample, a periodical manner. During this time, the operation mode isset in the disposition mode. Therefore, the controller 11 updates thedisposition of the designation point P0 relative to the contact point asthe detected contact point moves. When five seconds have elapsed, theuser's finger f1 has moved to the position shown in FIG. 5B. In thiscase, the position where the finger f1 and the display screen 10 are incontact with each other corresponds to a contact point P1. Thecontroller 11 renews the operation mode to the movement mode anddetermines the disposition of the designation point P0 relative to thecontact point P1.

After the operation mode is renewed to the movement mode, when the usermoves his/her finger f1 on the display screen 10 while keeping thefinger f1 in contact therewith, the controller 11 successively acquiresthe contact-point information indicating the moving contact point. Whenthe user moves his/her finger f1 along an arrow shown in FIG. 5C, thecontact point of the finger f1 moves from the contact point P1 to acontact point P2. In this case, the controller 11 moves the designationpoint so as to maintain the disposition between the contact pointbetween the finger f1 and the display screen 10 and the designationpoint designated by the user. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5C, whenthe contact point moves from the contact point P1 to the contact pointP2, the designation point moves from the designation point P0 to adesignation point P3.

When the user moves his/her finger f1, which is in contact with thedisplay screen 10 at the contact point P2, away from the display screen10, the controller 11 determines that a designation-point settingoperation has been performed and sets the designation point P3 as thedesignation point to be used in a process. Then, the controller 11executes the process using the set designation point P3. For example,three rectangular buttons are displayed in a display region R0 of thedisplay screen 10. Because the designation point P3 is aligned with themiddle button of the three buttons, the controller 11 determines thatthe middle button has been clicked and executes a process associatedwith this button.

Accordingly, the information processing apparatus 1 according to thefirst exemplary embodiment adjusts the disposition between the contactpoint and the designation point during a predetermined time periodstarting from the time point at which the user brings the operator intocontact with the display screen 10. When the aforementioned time periodhas elapsed, the information processing apparatus 1 moves thedesignation point in accordance with movement of the contact point untilthe aforementioned operator is moved away from the display screen 10.Therefore, the designation point designated by the user is displayed ata user's desired location relative to the contact point touched by theuser. By allowing the user to dispose the designation point at aposition different from that of the contact point, the designation pointis displayed without being hidden by the operator. With thisconfiguration, the information processing apparatus 1 may achieveimproved operability and suppress the possibility of erroneousoperations, as compared with a case where the apparatus does not havethis configuration.

In the first exemplary embodiment described above, the controller 11sets the operation mode to the disposition mode until a predeterminedtime elapses from the time point at which the operator comes intocontact with the display screen 10, and sets the operation mode to themovement mode when the aforementioned time has elapsed. Alternatively,the switching of the operation modes may be performed based onconditions other than the elapsed time. For example, the controller 11may set the operation mode to the disposition mode during a period inwhich the operator brought into contact with the display screen 10 ismoved thereon by a predetermined distance while being kept in contactwith the display screen 10, and may set the operation mode to themovement mode after the aforementioned period. Specifically, thecontroller 11 may set the operation mode to the disposition mode (i.e.,the first operation mode) when the operator is brought into contact withthe display screen 10, and may set the operation mode to the movementmode (i.e., the second operation mode) when the contact point is moved,while the operator is kept in contact with the display screen 10, by apredetermined distance from the position of the contact pointcorresponding to when the disposition mode (i.e., the first operationmode) is set.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

The display screen 10 in the second exemplary embodiment will now bedescribed. In the second exemplary embodiment, when the operator comesinto contact with the display screen 10, the controller 11 sets theoperation mode to the disposition mode. After the operation mode is setto the disposition mode, when the contact point where the operator is incontact with the display screen 10 is not moved for a predetermined timeperiod, the controller 11 determines the disposition of the designationpoint based on the contact point and sets the operation mode to themovement mode.

Specifically, when the finger f1 shown in FIG. 5A comes into contactwith the display screen 10, the controller 11 sets the operation mode tothe disposition mode. Then, when the finger f1 is moved to the positionshown in FIG. 5B by the user while being kept in contact with thedisplay screen 10 and is not moved from this position for thepredetermined time period, the controller 11 determines the dispositionof the designation point and sets the operation mode to the movementmode. As a result, the disposition of the designation point P0 relativeto the contact point P1 is determined.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the user moves his/her finger f1from the contact point P1 to the contact point P2 while keeping thefinger f1 in contact with the display screen 10, the designation pointmoves from the designation point P0 in accordance with the movingdirection and the moving distance of the finger f1 so as to be disposedat the designation point P3 shown in FIG. 5C. When the user moveshis/her finger f1 shown in FIG. 5C away from the display screen 10, thedesignation point P3 is set as the designation point, and the controller11 executes a process using the designation point P3.

In the example described above, the controller 11 sets the operationmode to the movement mode when the user does not move the operator forthe predetermined time period. Alternatively, the controller 11 may setthe operation mode to the movement mode when the user reduces the movingspeed of the operator on the display screen 10 such that the movingspeed of the detected contact point is made lower than a predeterminedspeed. In this case, after the operation mode is set to the dispositionmode, when the contact point where the operator is in contact with thedisplay screen 10 moves at a speed that is lower than a threshold valuefor a predetermined time period, the controller 11 determines thedisposition of the designation point based on the contact point and setsthe operation mode to the movement mode.

It may sometimes be difficult for the user to ascertain the moment atwhich the predetermined time period has elapsed. Since the informationprocessing apparatus 1 according to the second exemplary embodimentswitches the operation mode from the disposition mode to the movementmode when the user actively stops or reduces the moving speed of thecontact point, the possibility of erroneous operations may be suppressedas compared with the information processing apparatus 1 according to thefirst exemplary embodiment.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

The display screen 10 in the third exemplary embodiment will now bedescribed. In the third exemplary embodiment, the controller 11 sets theoperation mode to the disposition mode when the operator is moved awayfrom the display screen 10. After the operation mode is set to thedisposition mode, when the operator is brought into contact with thedisplay screen 10 again, the controller 11 determines the disposition ofthe designation point based on the contact point and sets the operationmode to the movement mode.

In this case, in order to interpret the operation performed by the userfor moving the operator away from the display screen 10 as thedesignation-point setting operation, the controller 11 decides whetherto switch the operation mode to the disposition mode or to set thedesignation point and execute a process when detecting this operation.In the information processing apparatus 1 according to the thirdexemplary embodiment, the controller 11 interprets this operation as thedesignation-point setting operation when there is no contact point for atime period that is longer than a predetermined time (namely, when theoperator is kept away from the display screen 10 for a time period thatis longer than the predetermined time). On the other hand, when theoperator moved away from the display screen 10 is brought into contactwith the display screen 10 again before the aforementioned time elapses,the controller 11 determines the disposition of the designation pointbased on the new contact point.

Specifically, when the user moves his/her finger f1 located at theposition shown in FIG. 5A away from the display screen 10 and brings thefinger f1 into contact with the display screen 10 at the position shownin FIG. 5B within a predetermined time (e.g., five seconds) from themoment the finger f1 is moved away from the display screen 10, thedisposition of the designation point P0 relative to the contact point P1is determined. When the user moves his/her finger f1 from the contactpoint P1 to the contact point P2 while keeping the finger f1 in contactwith the display screen 10, the designation point moves from thedesignation point P0 in accordance with the moving direction and themoving distance of the finger f1. As a result, the designation point isdisposed at the designation point P3 shown in FIG. 5C. When the userkeeps his/her finger f1 shown in FIG. 5C away from the display screen 10for five seconds or longer, the designation point P3 is set as thedesignation point, and the controller 11 executes a process using thedesignation point P3.

In the information processing apparatus 1 according to the thirdexemplary embodiment, even if the operator is kept away from the displayscreen 10, the designation point is not immediately set so that a chancefor changing the disposition between the designation point and thecontact point is given. Therefore, in the information processingapparatus 1 according to the third exemplary embodiment, the dispositionof the designation point relative to the contact point is updated anynumber of times by allowing the user to bring the operator into contactwith the display screen 10 again within the predetermined time.

When a specific operation for moving the finger f1 into and out ofcontact with the display screen 10 is performed by the user, thecontroller 11 may interpret this operation as the designation-pointsetting operation. Specifically, for example, when an operation ofmoving the operator away from the display screen 10 and then bringingthe operator into contact with the display screen 10 is repeated twicewithin a predetermined time (e.g., 0.5 seconds), the controller 11 mayinterpret this operation as the designation-point setting operation andexecute a process using this designation point. In this case, if anoperation that involves moving the operator away from the display screen10, moving the operator into contact with the display screen 10, movingthe operator away from the display screen 10, and then moving theoperator into contact with the display screen 10 is not performed withinthe aforementioned predetermined time, the controller 11 determines thatno designation-point setting operation has been performed. Therefore,the controller 11 determines that an operation performed by the user formoving the operator away from the display screen 10 is intended forswitching the operation mode to the disposition mode. In other words, ifa so-called “point-and-click” operation mentioned above is not performedwithin the aforementioned predetermined time, when the user subsequentlybrings the operator into contact with the display screen 10 again, thecontroller 11 determines the disposition of the designation point basedon the new contact point. Consequently, in this case, when determiningthe disposition of the designation point relative to the contact point,the time given to the user for bringing the operator into contact withthe display screen 10 again after moving the operator away from thedisplay screen 10 is not limited.

Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

A display screen 10 in a fourth exemplary embodiment will now bedescribed. FIGS. 6A to 6C illustrate examples of images displayed on thedisplay screen 10 of an information processing apparatus 1 according tothe fourth exemplary embodiment. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, thedetector 132 corresponds to a so-called multi-touch function thatsimultaneously detects multiple contact points. The controller 11 in thefourth exemplary embodiment sets the operation mode to the dispositionmode when, for example, the user keeps an operator in contact with acontact point (referred to as “first contact point” hereinafter), wherethe operator is first brought into contact with the display screen 10,and brings another operator into contact with a contact point (referredto as “second contact point” hereinafter) that is different from thefirst contact point. Then, when the operator in contact with the displayscreen 10 at the second contact point is moved away therefrom, thecontroller 11 sets the operation mode to the movement mode.

When the operation mode is set in the disposition mode, the controller11 in the fourth exemplary embodiment determines the disposition of thedesignation point relative to the first contact point without moving thedesignation point. When the operation mode is set in the movement mode,the controller 11 moves the designation point in accordance withmovement of the first contact point so as to maintain the disposition ofthe designation point determined in the disposition mode relative to thefirst contact point.

Specifically, when the user brings his/her finger f1 into contact withthe display screen 10 at a position shown in FIG. 6A in a state wherethere are no contact points on the display screen 10, the controller 11disposes the designation point at the position of the first contactpoint where the finger f1 is in contact with the display screen 10. Inother words, the controller 11 identifies the designation point P0 shownin FIG. 6A. Subsequently, when the user brings his/her finger f2different from the finger f1 into contact with the display screen 10 ata position shown in FIG. 6A, the controller 11 sets the operation modeto the disposition mode.

After the operation mode is set to the disposition mode, when the usermoves his/her fingers f1 and f2 to respective positions shown in FIG. 6Bwhile keeping the fingers f1 and f2 in contact with the display screen10, the controller 11 moves a first contact point P1 set by the fingerf1 without moving the designation point P0. When the user moves his/herfinger f2 away from the display screen 10 in the state shown in FIG. 6B,the controller 11 determines the disposition of the designation point P0relative to the first contact point P1 and renews the operation mode tothe movement mode.

After the operation mode is renewed to the movement mode, when the usermoves his/her finger f1 along an arrow shown in FIG. 6C, the firstcontact point of the finger f1 moves from the first contact point P1 toa first contact point P2. In this case, the controller 11 moves thedesignation point so as to maintain the disposition between the firstcontact point between the finger f1 and the display screen 10 and thedesignation point designated by the user. Specifically, as shown in FIG.6C, when the first contact point moves from the first contact point P1to the first contact point P2, the designation point moves from thedesignation point P0 to the designation point P3.

Accordingly, the information processing apparatus 1 according to thefourth exemplary embodiment adjusts the disposition of the designationpoint relative to the first contact point while the user keeps twooperators (such as two fingers) in contact with two positions on thedisplay screen 10. When the second operator is moved away from thedisplay screen 10, the information processing apparatus 1 moves thedesignation point in accordance with movement of the first contact pointof the remaining first operator. Therefore, the information processingapparatus 1 may achieve improved operability and suppress thepossibility of erroneous operations, as compared with a case where theapparatus does not have this configuration.

Although the user brings two operators into contact with differentpositions on the display screen 10 in the fourth exemplary embodimentdescribed above, the user may alternatively bring three or moreoperators into contact with respective positions on the display screen10. In this case, the information processing apparatus 1 may set theoperation mode to the disposition mode (i.e., the first operation mode)when there are multiple contact points, and to the movement mode (i.e.,the second operation mode) when there is one contact point. In otherwords, the information processing apparatus 1 may be configured toswitch and set the operation mode based on whether there are multiplecontact points or there is one contact point.

Fifth Exemplary Embodiment

A display screen 10 in a fifth exemplary embodiment will now bedescribed. FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate examples of images displayed on thedisplay screen 10 of an information processing apparatus 1 according tothe fifth exemplary embodiment. In the fifth exemplary embodiment, thedetector 132 corresponds to a so-called multi-touch function thatsimultaneously detects multiple contact points. The controller 11 in thefifth exemplary embodiment sets the operation mode to the dispositionmode when, for example, the user keeps an operator in contact with thefirst contact point, where the operator is first brought into contactwith the display screen 10, and brings another operator into contactwith the second contact point that is different from the first contactpoint. Then, when the operator in contact with the display screen 10 atthe second contact point is moved away therefrom, the controller 11 setsthe operation mode to the movement mode.

When the operation mode is set in the disposition mode, the controller11 in the fifth exemplary embodiment moves the designation point inaccordance with movement of the second contact point so as to determinethe disposition of the designation point relative to the first contactpoint. When the operation mode is set in the movement mode, thecontroller 11 moves the designation point in accordance with movement ofthe first contact point so as to maintain the disposition of thedesignation point determined in the disposition mode relative to thefirst contact point.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the operation mode is set in themovement mode, the disposition of the designation point P0 relative tothe first contact point P1 where the finger f1 is in contact with thedisplay screen 10 is determined. In this case, the disposition of thefirst contact point P1 relative to the designation point P0 does notchange even if the finger f1 is moved anywhere. However, if thedesignation point P0 is disposed at the lower right side of the firstcontact point P1, as shown in FIG. 7A, it may be difficult for the userto perform an operation. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7B, the user maybring his/her finger f2 into contact with the display screen 10 byaligning the finger f2 with the designation point P0 and move the fingerf2 in a direction indicated by an arrow while keeping the finger f1 incontact with the display screen 10. Because the finger f2 is in contactwith the display screen 10 while being aligned with the designationpoint P0, the second contact point touched by the finger f2 is alignedwith the designation point P0.

When the finger f2, which is the second finger, comes into contact withthe display screen 10, the controller 11 sets the operation mode to thedisposition mode, whereby the disposition of the designation pointrelative to the first contact point becomes cancelled. Then, thecontroller 11 moves the displayed position of the designation point P0in accordance with movement of the second contact point touched by thefinger f2. As a result, the designation point P0 moves to a positionshown in FIG. 7C. When the user moves his/her finger f2 away from thedisplay screen 10 after moving the finger f2 to the position shown inFIG. 7C, the controller 11 sets the operation mode to the movement mode.Consequently, the disposition of the designation point P0 shown in FIG.7C relative to the first contact point P1 is determined, and thedesignation point P0 moves in accordance with movement of the contactpoint P1 such that this disposition is maintained.

Accordingly, the information processing apparatus 1 according to thefifth exemplary embodiment moves the designation point in accordancewith movement of the second contact point while the user keeps twooperators in contact with two positions, i.e., the first contact pointand the second contact point, on the display screen 10, therebyadjusting the disposition of the designation point relative to the firstcontact point. Then, when the second operator (such as the secondfinger) is moved away from the display screen 10, the informationprocessing apparatus 1 moves the designation point in accordance withmovement of the first contact point by the remaining first operator.Therefore, the information processing apparatus 1 may achieve improvedoperability and suppress the possibility of erroneous operations, ascompared with a case where the apparatus does not have thisconfiguration.

In the fifth exemplary embodiment described above, during a time periodin which the user keeps two operators in contact with two positions,i.e., the first contact point and the second contact point, on thedisplay screen 10, the designation point is moved in accordance withmovement of the most-recently-touched second contact point.Alternatively, the designation point may be moved in accordance withmovement of the first contact point. In other words, when there aremultiple contact points and the mode is set in the disposition mode(i.e., the first operation mode), the information processing apparatus 1may move the designation point in accordance with movement of one of themultiple contact points so as to change the disposition of thedesignation point relative to the other contact point. In this case,there are various ways to determine which of the multiple contact pointsis to be set as the contact point that makes the designation point move.For example, as described above, the contact point that makes thedesignation point move may be a contact point that is most recentlytouched or may be a contact point corresponding to a predetermined orderof contact, such as a secondarily contacted point.

MODIFICATIONS

The exemplary embodiments described above may be combined whereappropriate. In addition, the exemplary embodiments may be modified asfollows. Moreover, the following modifications may be combined whereappropriate.

First Modification

When the operation mode is set in the disposition mode, the controller11 may display the designation point at a position that is differentfrom the first contact point and the second contact point and that isset based on the first contact point and the second contact point. FIGS.8A to 8C illustrate examples of images displayed on a display screen 10of an information processing apparatus 1 according to this modification.In FIGS. 8A to 8C, an operator first brought into contact with thedisplay screen 10 by the user corresponds to a finger f1, and thecontact point of the finger f1 corresponds to a first contact point P1.Moreover, an operator secondarily brought into contact with the displayscreen 10 by the user corresponds to a finger f2, and the contact pointof the finger f2 corresponds to a second contact point P2.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the designation point P0 may be amidpoint on a line segment having the first contact point P1 and thesecond contact point P2 as opposite ends. Specifically, the designationpoint P0 may be located on the line segment having the first contactpoint P1 and the second contact point P2 as opposite ends and may beseparated by an equal distance from the first contact point P1 and thesecond contact point P2.

Furthermore, for example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the designation point P0may be set such that the second contact point P2 is a midpoint on a linesegment having the first contact point P1 and the designation point P0as opposite ends.

Furthermore, for example, as shown in FIG. 8C, the designation point P0may be set such that the designation point P0, the first contact pointP1, and the second contact point P2 are apexes of a regular triangle. Inthis case, for example, the aforementioned regular triangle may be setsuch that a polygonal line that connects the designation point P0, thefirst contact point P1, and the second contact point P2 in that orderextends counterclockwise on the display screen 10.

Second Modification

Although the first contact point and the second contact point are notinterchanged with each other in the fourth exemplary embodiment, thefifth exemplary embodiment, and the first modification described above,the controller 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 mayinterchange the first contact point and the second contact point if thesecond contact point is moved away prior to the first contact point.Specifically, if an operator is moved away from the first contact pointbefore another operator is moved away from the second contact point, thecontroller 11 may set this second contact point as a new first contactpoint and set the operation mode to the movement mode.

Third Modification

Each of the programs to be executed by the controller 11 of theinformation processing apparatus 1 may be provided in a stored state ina computer readable recording medium, which includes a magneticrecording medium, such as magnetic tape or a magnetic disk, an opticalrecording medium, such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical recordingmedium, and a semiconductor memory. Furthermore, these programs may bedownloaded via a communication line, such as the Internet. Thecontroller 11 described above as an example of a control unit may be ofvarious kinds of devices other than a CPU, and may be, for example, adedicated processor.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: adisplay having a display screen that displays an image; an acquiringsection that acquires information indicating a contact point which is aposition where an operator is brought into contact with the displayscreen by a user; a display controller that makes the display screendisplay an image showing a designation point designated by the user; anda setting section that sets an operation mode by switching between afirst operation mode in which a disposition of the designation pointrelative to the contact point is changeable and a second operation modein which the designation point is moved in accordance with movement ofthe contact point so that the disposition changed in the first operationmode is maintained, wherein the display controller controls display ofthe designation point in accordance with the operation mode set by thesetting section.
 2. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the setting section sets the operation mode to thefirst operation mode if the contact point includes a plurality ofcontact points, and sets the operation mode to the second operation modeif the contact point includes a single contact point.
 3. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the operationmode is set to the first operation mode by the setting section, thedisplay controller does not move the designation point.
 4. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when theoperation mode is set to the first operation mode by the settingsection, the display controller moves the designation point inaccordance with movement of one of the plurality of contact points. 5.The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein whenthe operation mode is set to the first operation mode by the settingsection, the display controller moves the designation point to aposition that is different from the plurality of contact points and thatis set based on the plurality of contact points.
 6. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting sectionsets the operation mode to the first operation mode when the operator ismoved away from the display screen, and sets the operation mode to thesecond operation mode when the operator is brought into contact with thedisplay screen again after the first operation mode is set, and whereinwhen the operation mode is set to the first operation mode by thesetting section, the display controller determines the disposition basedon a contact point, at which the operator is brought into contact withthe display screen again, without moving the designation point.
 7. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesetting section sets the operation mode to the first operation mode whenthe operator is brought into contact with the display screen, and setsthe operation mode to the second operation mode when the contact pointis moved, while the operator is kept in contact with the display screen,by a predetermined distance from a position of the contact pointcorresponding to when the first operation mode is set.
 8. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesetting section sets the operation mode to the first operation mode whenthe operator is brought into contact with the display screen, and setsthe operation mode to the second operation mode when a predeterminedtime has elapsed from a time point at which the first operation mode isset while the operator is kept in contact with the display screen. 9.The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein thesetting section sets the operation mode to the first operation mode whenthe operator is brought into contact with the display screen, and setsthe operation mode to the second operation mode when a predeterminedtime has elapsed from a time point at which the first operation mode isset while the operator is kept in contact with the display screen. 10.The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesetting section sets the operation mode to the first operation mode whenthe operator is brought into contact with the display screen, and setsthe operation mode to the second operation mode when the contact pointof the operator is not moved for a predetermined time period or when thecontact point is moved at a speed that is lower than a threshold valuefor a predetermined time period.
 11. The information processingapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the setting section sets theoperation mode to the first operation mode when the operator is broughtinto contact with the display screen, and sets the operation mode to thesecond operation mode when the contact point of the operator is notmoved for a predetermined time period or when the contact point is movedat a speed that is lower than a threshold value for a predetermined timeperiod.
 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the setting section sets the operation mode to the firstoperation mode when the operator is brought into contact with thedisplay screen, and sets the operation mode to the second operation modewhen the contact point of the operator is not moved for a predeterminedtime period or when the contact point is moved at a speed that is lowerthan a threshold value for a predetermined time period.
 13. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein thesetting section sets the operation mode to the first operation mode whenthe operator is brought into contact with the display screen, and setsthe operation mode to the second operation mode when the contact pointof the operator is not moved for a predetermined time period or when thecontact point is moved at a speed that is lower than a threshold valuefor a predetermined time period.
 14. A non-transitory computer readablemedium storing a program causing a computer of an information processingapparatus to execute a process, the information processing apparatusincluding a display having a display screen that displays an image, theprocess comprising: acquiring information indicating a contact pointwhich is a position where an operator is brought into contact with thedisplay screen by a user; setting an operation mode to a first operationmode or a second operation mode in accordance with the contact pointindicated by the acquired information; and controlling the display so asto make the display screen display an image showing a designation pointdesignated by the user, wherein when the operation mode is set to thefirst operation mode, a disposition of the designation point relative tothe contact point is determined based on the contact point, and whereinwhen the operation mode is set to the second operation mode, thedesignation point is moved in accordance with movement of the contactpoint so that the determined disposition is maintained.
 15. Aninformation processing method comprising: acquiring informationindicating a contact point which is a position where an operator isbrought into contact with a display screen of a display by a user;setting an operation mode to a first operation mode or a secondoperation mode in accordance with the contact point indicated by theacquired information; and controlling the display so as to make thedisplay screen display an image showing a designation point designatedby the user, wherein when the operation mode is set to the firstoperation mode, a disposition of the designation point relative to thecontact point is determined based on the contact point, and wherein whenthe operation mode is set to the second operation mode, the designationpoint is moved in accordance with movement of the contact point so thatthe determined disposition is maintained.